Legal complaint filed in death of an Emerald Isle teen

The parents of an Emerald Isle teen who died in June after a fall on his skateboard have filed a legal complaint alleging negligence by medical personnel during his transport between hospitals.
On June 28, their son fell and hit his head while riding a skateboard and was taken to the emergency room at Carteret General Hospital, the complaint stated. A CT scan was normal but doctors suspected a possible basilar skull fracture and the decision was made to transport him to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, the complaint stated.

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By JANNETTE PIPPIN Daily News Staff

Published: Friday, November 8, 2013 at 06:30 AM.

EMERALD ISLE — The parents of an Emerald Isle teen who died in June after a fall on his skateboard have filed a legal complaint alleging negligence by medical personnel during his transport between hospitals.

Attorneys R. Bailey Melvin of Greenville and John T. Briggs of Kellum Law Firm in New Bern filed the complaint against Carteret General Hospital on behalf of David B. Hughes Sr. and Kimberly D. Hughes, parents of 13-year-old Andrew “Drew” Hughes.

On June 28, their son fell and hit his head while riding a skateboard and was taken to the emergency room at Carteret General Hospital, the complaint stated. A CT scan was normal but doctors suspected a possible basilar skull fracture and the decision was made to transport him to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, the complaint stated.

The complaint documents a series of actions during this transport by ambulance that alleges negligence on the part of the medical team of paramedics, nurses and respiratory therapists, all employees or agents of Carteret General, providing treatment to Drew during this time.

Drew was intubated when he was placed on the ambulance but shortly after a stop in Newport for an exchange of crew members, he awoke and pulled out the intubation tube. Due to paralytics and sedatives he had been given, he was dependent on the endotracheal tube for oxygen.

It is alleged that during re-intubation, “Drew was intubated into his esophagus rather than his trachea and was not receiving oxygen and could no longer breathe on his own.”

EMERALD ISLE — The parents of an Emerald Isle teen who died in June after a fall on his skateboard have filed a legal complaint alleging negligence by medical personnel during his transport between hospitals.

Attorneys R. Bailey Melvin of Greenville and John T. Briggs of Kellum Law Firm in New Bern filed the complaint against Carteret General Hospital on behalf of David B. Hughes Sr. and Kimberly D. Hughes, parents of 13-year-old Andrew “Drew” Hughes.

On June 28, their son fell and hit his head while riding a skateboard and was taken to the emergency room at Carteret General Hospital, the complaint stated. A CT scan was normal but doctors suspected a possible basilar skull fracture and the decision was made to transport him to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, the complaint stated.

The complaint documents a series of actions during this transport by ambulance that alleges negligence on the part of the medical team of paramedics, nurses and respiratory therapists, all employees or agents of Carteret General, providing treatment to Drew during this time.

Drew was intubated when he was placed on the ambulance but shortly after a stop in Newport for an exchange of crew members, he awoke and pulled out the intubation tube. Due to paralytics and sedatives he had been given, he was dependent on the endotracheal tube for oxygen.

It is alleged that during re-intubation, “Drew was intubated into his esophagus rather than his trachea and was not receiving oxygen and could no longer breathe on his own.”

The complaint states that the medical personnel were negligent in that they failed to keep Drew properly sedated and restrained; failed to properly re-intubate Drew; failed to perform standard objective tests to verify proper placement of the endotracheal tube; and failed to recognize clear signs and symptoms of an esophageal intubation and respond to those signs.

It also states they failed to use their best judgment in the care of Drew and attempted to “falsify the medical records to cover up their negligence.”

Drew’s heart rate dropped in the ambulance and he had no pulse. The ambulance was diverted to CarolinaEast’s emergency room, where he was re-intubated again and his blood oxygen saturation returned to normal and vitals improved. However, the complaint states, other test results of blood gases were “consistent with massive hypoxic brain damage from the loss of oxygen,” the complaint states.

Drew was then transferred to Vidant Medical Center, where further testing determined that he met the criteria for brain death and life support was withdrawn, it reads.

The complaint calls for a jury trial and says the Hughes’ are entitled to recover compensatory damages for medical and other expenses incurred in Drew’s treatment in excess of $10,000; damages for infliction of severe emotional distress in an amount in excess of $10,000; and additional damages in excess of $10,000 as a result of the negligence of the defendants.

Michelle Lee, community relations director for Carteret General Hospital, said the hospital cannot comment on pending litigation but said the hospital has the Hughes family in its thoughts.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to the Hughes family for their loss. Their family is very close to our own hospital family,” she said.